Williams FW26

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**Williams FW26**

Category	Formula One
Constructor	Williams Grand Prix Engineering
Designer	Patrick Head
Chassis	Carbon/Epoxy composite monocoque
Suspension (front)	-
Suspension (rear)	-
Engine	BMW 2998cc V10 naturally-aspirated Mid-mounted
Transmission	Williams 7-Speed manual
Fuel	Petrobras
Tyres	Michelin
Notable entrants	Williams
Notable drivers	{{{Drivers}}}
Debut	2004 Australian Grand Prix
Races competed	18 (all variants)
Race victories	1
Constructors' Championships	0
Drivers' Championships	0
Pole positions	1
Fastest laps	2

The Williams FW26 was WilliamsF1's car for the 2004 F1 world championship, to be driven by Ralf Schumacher and Juan-Pablo Montoya. It was designed by Patrick Head, Gavin Fisher and Antonia Terzi, and proved to be one of the most attention grabing cars of the season. It was powered by the BMW 3.0 V10 engine, one of the most powerful in F1 at the time.

Juan Pablo Montoya driving for Williams at the 2004 US GP.

Williams had finished 2003 with arguably the strongest package overall, and great expectation was on the team to win both titles in 2004, having come so close the previous year. To this end, Head supervised the car with the aim of being on the pace immediately, whilst his design team came up with a revolutionary aerodynamics package. The car featured a radical front section, nicknamed the 'walrus nose.' It featured a short, stubby nosecone connected to the front wing by sloping vertical spars which allowed more airflow to the underside of the car. In an affort to maximise the airflow, the front suspension was designed a round the twin keel principle, pioneered by Sauber and used by McLaren and Jordan.

The FW26 proved fast in pre-season testing and Montoya was tipped as a title favourite, but during the season proper the car proved difficult to set up and was inconsistent, with Montoya and Schumacher both struggling to maximise the car's potential.

The mid season was especially barren. Both cars were disqualified from second and third place finishes in Canada and Schumacher suffered a heavy crash at Indianopolis, sidelining him fpr three months. His replacements, Marc Gene and Antonio Pizzonia could do little with the car and it was left to Montoya to defend Williams' honour.

The team redesigned the front end of the car in time for the Belgian Grand Prix and fitted the car with a more conventional nosecone. This helped bring an upsurge of competitiveness to the car and gave Montoya a needed boost. He rounded off the season with a win in Brazil, whilst the returning Schumacher put in strong drives in Japan and China. Both drivers left at the end of the season, and the replacement FW27 was designed to be a far more conventional car for the following year.